National Poetry Month Celebration 2015

My respect and admiration for Rita Dove is personal. I was introduced to her work in 1995, a time when my adolescent experience was different from anyone that I had ever known. I was transitioning into adulthood and clinging to anything that reminded me that I was not alone in my life experience, that there were common threads between me and other women I’ve never met or would ever meet. While in college my job was to analyze and write at length my interpretation of Rita Dove poems from Mother Love, the poetry I was studying turned into a balm helping me through a quite difficult time. Surely I am not alone in this experience as many are moved by her words and work. One could only imagine that it was pretty amazing to meet her in person for the first time at Virginia tech while celebrating Toni Morrison in 2012. Of any of the dozens of things I wished to tell Ms. Dove - that her work inspired me to write poetry; that her topics of mother and daughter were so pivotal to my experience with my own mother; that I was thankful for her as a woman and poet and in some distant faraway way she was like a mentor guiding me as I navigated womanhood in a mother’s absence.

It was by far too intense for me to articulate anything but tears and a “thank you” in the brief moment we met on stage after the program. I mean the picture says it all. But how gracious was she to take another picture where I smiled instead of doing the ugly cry?

Rita Dove and Yvonne Brown Virginia Tech 2012

Rita Dove and Yvonne Brown Virginia Tech 2012

What should you do if you ever cry in front of your favorite poet or author?

Let it go, but don’t get carried away. Get yourself together and compose yourself as soon as you possibly can. Remember: You are probably not the first person to do this in front of them and Poets (and Authors) are people too---diminsh the awkwardness as prompt and graceful as the situation will lend itself.

Don’t beat yourself up and continue on with whatever you were saying or going to say. If this should happen at a book signing, get the book signed and keep it moving.

Keep it short and sweet. You’ve already spoken volumes with your tears.

Has this ever happened to you?

What tips would you add to the list?

Love how you end this (almost) with "You've already spoken volumes with your tears." That is what I would have taken from this if I were the poet on the receiving end of those tears of admiration and deep love. It is lovely to hear how Rita Dove influenced you and how much affinity you have felt for her over the years. And how wonderful you had the opportunity to meet her. Your tears were probably a mixture of joy, disbelief and wonder at being able to meet Rita and then to carry this memory with you forever. Thanks for sharing this, Yvonne and congratulations on this opportunity.

Tears of happiness, tears of being touched, moved and inspired, speaks volumes. This was for you a profound experience and she got it. I loved you posting this so close to mother's day as she is a woman who made a difference in your life.